When would you pay the tradesman?

wilson1972

Just curious guys, i had a price given to me all in for new bath, a few pipes replacing (short section) - retiling the first course of tiles and new vinyl flooring. I probably wouldnt have had the job done if i had known the bills to come, but thats beside the point.

The plumber has just finished the bath and tiling, but has told me the floor fitting is going to be a week or so as the guy he has to do it is on hols, that isnt an issue, but- would you pay him for his work now or wait until floor done? I did check that the all in price included floor.

Not sure what is standard here?

McKneff

Personally I would,d pay when the job is finished and I am satisfied with it. 

wilson1972

Well i am happy with the bath and retiling and repiping, he has just asked me to settle that part of the bill (full price minus 300 for the flooring)

He has effectively subcontracted the flooring work, i guess i was just a bit concerned the floorer would turn up next week and decide the price was not 300 afterall 

I caved in though as i dont like arguing with them and he asked me flat out to pay for the work he has done (all but flooring)

DRP

McKneff said:

Personally I would,d pay when the job is finished and I am satisfied with it. 

Agree with this. If plumber has quoted for the job, then pay him when the job is done.

Martin_the_Unjust

I would have paid him too, purely on the basis that, as he seems to have done a good job you’ll want to use him in the future.

Good trades people like working for good customers.

wilson1972

Martin_the_Unjust said:

I would have paid him too, purely on the basis that, as he seems to have done a good job you’ll want to use him in the future.

Good trades people like working for good customers.

Yeh i guess i am being over-wary, the guy is a nice bloke and i love the shiny new copper work in the bathroom as well as the new bath and the new tiling.

I have been done over by dodgy tradesmen lately (one quoted 1700 to do new fascias, soffits etc on three sides and on the garage, then when he had half the roof off and i had no choice he announced i need new felt trays and eaves felt and put the price up 1k). I was furious but with half my roof off i was scared to argue.

I guess as long as i am happy for the price of the new bath and new piping it doesnt really matter....i am just not used to paying before the entire quoted job is done

Oh the money is already in his account, once i agree to something i pay immediately

Mistral001

I would have been wary about paying before the job was done, but you seemed to have agreed to that before the job was started, so it looks like that you are contractually bound by that as are they.   

wilson1972

Mistral001 said:

I would have been wary about paying before the job was done, but you seemed to have agreed to that before the job was started, so it looks like that you are contractually bound by that as are they.   

Not sure about that?
I agreed an 'all in price' for the job-- the plumber didnt breakdown the cost for me at the start.

It was when he finished his 'part' of the job he announced there was a week delay on the flooring bit (which someone else is doing) and asked for his part of the job to be paid for. Thats when i found out the cost of the floor component.

TELLIT01

He didn't ask for payment for work which hasn't been done, so I don't think it unreasonable to make part payment at this stage. 

Mistral001

wilson1972 said:

Mistral001 said:

I would have been wary about paying before the job was done, but you seemed to have agreed to that before the job was started, so it looks like that you are contractually bound by that as are they.   

Not sure about that?
I agreed an 'all in price' for the job-- the plumber didnt breakdown the cost for me at the start.

It was when he finished his 'part' of the job he announced there was a week delay on the flooring bit (which someone else is doing) and asked for his part of the job to be paid for. Thats when i found out the cost of the floor component.

I see.  I thought you had already paid for the the whole job.  In that case he is really asking you for a favour to be paid in stages rather than at the end unless he mentioned stage payments before the job was completed.   You could say that you always  pay after the job is done and you want to stick with that policy on this job.  The delay with the sub-contractor, as far as your contract with the pllumber is concerned, is the plumber's responsibility.

wilson1972

Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback on this, to be honest i am happy with the work done. But i had thought the floor component of the job was a higher proportion of the cost so dont know if its about right for what i had done?

I Had :

Old bath removing

New bath installing with new taps and what looked like new waterline hoses lines to them (basic 200 quid bath albeit with a fancy plug)

New copper piping between bath and sink, and matching copper piping to the toilet and waste stack.- about 3 or 4 metres of copper piping in all.

Bottom row of tiles around the bath removed and replaced with matching tiles and regrouted

He has probably been here for about 10 hours all together, he kept waiting for stuff to be cured so it took several days (the bath has been sealed twice, once before tiles went on)


That comes to 725- seem reasonable?